Kimberly-Clark to cut emissions with UK green hydrogen investment

Kimberly-Clark has announced a major sustainability initiative, becoming the first large consumer goods company in the U.K. to commit substantially to green hydrogen. In partnership with Carlton Power Limited and HYRO, a joint venture between Octopus Energy Generation and RES, the company is investing £125 million (approximately US$170 million) to bring green hydrogen infrastructure to two of its U.K. production facilities.

The investment will support the installation of hydrogen production capabilities at the company’s plants in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, and Northfleet, Kent. These sites manufacture close to one billion Andrex toilet rolls and more than 150 million boxes of Kleenex tissues annually.

Starting in 2027, Kimberly-Clark aims to reduce natural gas consumption by 50% across its U.K. production lines. The company estimates the initiative will lower its carbon emissions by 28,500 tonnes of CO₂ per year. the equivalent of removing 20,000 petrol-powered cars from the road annually.

The projects are supported by the U.K. Government’s Hydrogen Production Business Model and the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund. Kimberly-Clark stated that the initiative reinforces its broader efforts to decarbonize tissue production and lead sustainable manufacturing in the sector.